The BioSand Water Filter is an adaptation of slow-sand filtration that is designed for use by families at the household level. This award-winning water filtration technology was developed by Dr. David Manz, a former University of Calgary professor. The filters are a proven, effective, and inexpensive technology. From start to finish the filters can be constructed in roughly 10 days, at an average cost of $100, which covers the raw materials, construction, transportation, supervision, training for the family in filter maintenance and personal hygiene, as well as monitoring and evaluation. The filter removes organisms responsible for diseases spread by water, such as cholera, typhoid fever, and amoebic dysentery. The filter also strains out particles causing cloudiness, and much of the organic matter responsible for taste, colour, and odour. One of the UN Millennium Development Goals is to reduce, by half, the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and hygienic sanitation by the year 2015. Samaritans Purse is helping make this possible. Already more than 70000 BioSand Water Filters have been installed, bringing safe water to an estimated 560000 individuals worldwide. The Filtration Process The filter is very durable, constructed from concrete, sand, gravel, and PVC piping. These materials can be found in almost every country and enable community members to help construct the filters on location. Water is poured into the top of the filter and flows down …